john boehner wrote, faa has flexibility to cut costs without delaying air travelers. why won't president obama let them? but the president's transportation department head says there was no other choice. >> we cut contracts, we eliminated temporary employees, we looked everywhere possible to avoid the kind of furloughs that are now taking place. >> reporter: he puts the blame on congress for agreeing to automatic, across the board budget cuts. >> now it's up to congress to look at a very dumb way of budgeting and change it. critics point to other areas of the faa they say could be cut instead of air traffic controllers, for example, a three billion airport improvement fund that so far hasn't been touched by the budget cs. char >>> much of the midwest is expecting rain today. that means more trouble for cities and towns along the mississippi river. they face serious flooding when the big river crests later this week. other areas underwater right now. dean reynolds in peoria illinois. the river is reaching a record high crest. >> good morning, charlie and norah. you can